ADRA Czech creates game app to help Syrian refugees

When anti-government demonstrations began in March 2011 in Syria, what ensued was violent government crackdown and armed opposition groups fighting back. Syria’s ongoing war has left an estimated 6.5 million people without homes in the country, and more than five million people fled to neighboring countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey.

In 2016, ADRA Czech desired to help Syrian refugees and had gotten their chance by way of developing a game app. “The creators of the game contacted us, and we agreed to cooperate,” said Jakub Charvat, head of public relations and fundraising for ADRA Czech. “As we came up with game concepts, we didn’t want the game to be brutal, violent, or associated with war. It made sense to instead create a game about helping others, and that’s where the idea for ‘Husky the Savior’ was born.”

The fun interactive game app can be downloaded on any iOS or Android device at no cost. Once the app is downloaded, gamers select the play button to start the game. Gamers have to help the husky character rescue puppies without getting caught. “The aim is the more puppies the gamer helps the husky rescue, the more points the gamer collects,” says Charvat.

Charvat further explained that gamers help ADRA Czech through in-app purchases, a voluntary way of earning bonus points in the game, or by watching sponsored videos while playing the game as long as the gamer can. “By playing the game money will be generated,” Charvat, “it’s that easy.”

The more gamers download the game app, the more Syrian refugees will receive help. “The income we receive from the in-app purchases or from paid advertisements will go toward helping children in Syria receive funds to continue school, shelter assistance, and clean water,” says Charvat. “The game app is a small yet innovative step toward aid provision, but it will be a big way to help Syrian refugees right from your mobile or tablet.”

So far, the game app has been downloaded more than 1,000 times since its launch in April.